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Will BISD teacher's lawsuit go to trial?

By Manuella Libardi

Updated
10:50 am CDT, Friday, September 25, 2015

After hearing oral arguments Thursday, the Ninth Court of Appeals will decide whether to order a trial in the "whistleblower" case of a former South Park Middle School substitute teacher who said he was fired because he told the state he was pressured to falsify attendance records. less

After hearing oral arguments Thursday, the Ninth Court of Appeals will decide whether to order a trial in the "whistleblower" case of a former South Park Middle School substitute teacher who said he was fired ... more

Photo: Kim Brent

Photo: Kim Brent

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After hearing oral arguments Thursday, the Ninth Court of Appeals will decide whether to order a trial in the "whistleblower" case of a former South Park Middle School substitute teacher who said he was fired because he told the state he was pressured to falsify attendance records. less

After hearing oral arguments Thursday, the Ninth Court of Appeals will decide whether to order a trial in the "whistleblower" case of a former South Park Middle School substitute teacher who said he was fired ... more

Photo: Kim Brent

Will BISD teacher's lawsuit go to trial?

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After hearing oral arguments Thursday, the Ninth Court of Appeals will decide whether to order a trial in the "whistleblower" case of a former South Park Middle School substitute teacher who said he was fired because he told the state he was pressured to falsify attendance records.

George Thomas, who was an in-school suspension teacher at South Park from 2008 to 2013, filed the lawsuit in December 2013, alleging the school's principal, Duaine Harris, told him students would no longer sign an attendance sheet in Thomas' classroom but instead would sign in at another location.

Thomas contends BISD retaliated against him for submitting a report to the Texas Education Agency. He is seeking compensatory damages.

BISD is challenging whether the 60th District Court, the court Thomas filed his petition in, has jurisdiction over the pending claims, a motion the court's judge denied.

BISD's attorney, Clay Grover, argued Thursday that Thomas submitted his report to the TEA after Harris told Thomas the school had decided to replace him with a certified substitute teacher.